Book Review of "Read My Lipstick" (Josephine Stuart Mystery)

Dear mystery reading friends, I want to share a review of “Read My Lipstick” with you, and encourage you to cuddle up with your Kindle $4.99 and enjoy my stories. Yes, I am unabashedly asking for more reviews.

By B. Altman (Reviewer)
   
This review is from: "Read My Lipstick" (Josephine Stuart Mystery) (Kindle Edition) $4.99 

Well, Ms. Oroz has done it again!! A really fun book and I found it very hard to put it down. The adventures of Josephine and her darling Basset Hound...This story takes you all all the way from Aromos,Calif. to Tahoe in the snow. There is just one crazy thing after another that happens to Josephine. I am anxious for her next book..
I loved it!

Book signing at the Brewery (Josephine’s favorite hang-out)

SPECIAL EVENT - FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE-BOOK EVENT BY MYSTERY AUTHOR JOYCE OROZ - 'SECURE THE RANCH'

A DAY FULL OF FUN!

What could be more fun and relaxing than a visit to the Brewery Café in Boulder Creek? Even better, the Brewery will be hosting a book event for the popular mystery novel, "Secure the Ranch". Joyce Oroz, local author, will sign her books and answer questions Saturday, March 26th, 1:00 to 4:00. Profits will go to the SLV Home School FUND.

The Brewery has a lovely, family-friendly atmosphere and great menu. If you are hungry, Chef Judd will be at your service. Oroz will be greeting folks in a room at the back of the dinning room. She will sit near the homemade cookies!

"Secure the Ranch" is the first book in the Josephine Stuart Mystery Series. Oroz will talk about the story which unfolds mainly in Boulder Creek. She will also talk about her second book in the series, "Read My Lipstick", which will be available in April.

"Secure the Ranch" follows a mystery surrounding Josephine Stuart, an artist who is hired to paint murals for a wealthy client high in the mountains of California. After strange accidents, occurrences, and the death of a wildlife ranger, Josephine finds she is unable to set aside her curiosity and delves deep into a mystery best left alone.

Join the fun, support a local school and take home a fantastic read.

Author Appearances & Book Signings of "Secure the Ranch" by Author Joyce Oroz
Boulder Creek Brewery & Cafe
13040 California 9
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-7882

When: Saturday, March 26th, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

If you cannot make it to this great event, you can still Purchase "Secure the Ranch" in
Paperback format here or the Kindle Format here.

Author Joyce Oroz Takes a Trip to Arizona - Mysterious Burros Spotted

Boston has its Terriers, France has its Poodles and Arizona has Burros galore. They wander the deserts, looking adorable in their brown fury coats and jackrabbit ears.

Recently I was driving along a two-lane Arizona road, when half a dozen burros crossed in front of my car just three car-lengths ahead. I pulled over just as they turned and posed for a picture, and than galloped back to my side of the road for another picture. Hamming it up, they crossed the road again and waited for me to take a final shot.

Obviously the burros were undecided as to where they wanted to be, or was it a senior moment and they forgot where they left their glasses—who knows. Anyway, the Highway Patrol arrived and ushered them along to better pastures. I continued my journey, still smiling and thinking about those darling little burros.



























All Photos were taken my Author Joyce Oroz

"Secure The Ranch" - Mystery
"Secure the Ranch" is available in Paperback and Kindle Format!

Excerpt from The Mystery Novel "Secure the Ranch" By Author Joyce Oroz

"Secure The Ranch" By Author Joyce Oroz
Mystery----Suspense ---Mystery Series
(Available in either Paperback format of Kindle)

Hope you all enjoy!




July's full moon rose above my head, revealing itself occasionally through a canopy of leafy tree limbs stretching over the creek. I watched beams of moonlight turn ordinary splashes of water into silvery jewels as the creek cut a path through the dark, pervasive forest full of wild animals. Fortunately I was an adult and didn't have to worry about unseen lions, tigers and bears. I told myself I was safe because nature's creatures were asleep for the night. I only had to watch out for the meanest animal of all, the armed pot farmer. That animal gave me shivers of dread.

Somewhere in the dark, an owl gave two hoots and a second later, hot breath and terrifying guttural snarls were inches from my face. I recoiled automatically, falling into the water, butt first. I scrambled toward the middle of the stream, half walking, half crawling over and around the rocks.

Glancing back, I saw Thor in the moonlight, thrashing around on his hind legs, trying to rid himself of the short rope tied around his neck. The other end of the rope was tied to a tree at the edge of the water. So that was where Kenneth left the mastiff. I was pretty sure the dog knew my scent and would like to tear me apart for old-time sake. The growling, slobbering canine tried over and over again to break free as I hurried past him and continued my trek down stream.

I thought about Solow and remembered that I had left his dinner bowl on the porch near his bed. He would need water, but I was sure he could find some on his own. Bet he's upset with me right now, I thought.

In my head I calculated the number of hours since my last meal. It had been about twenty-eight hours, give or take two, since I wasn't wearing a watch. Solow's kibble, with a little salt and pepper, would have been a welcome gourmet treat at that point.

I was wet up to my waist and the tiniest breeze sent my teeth chattering uncontrollably, but I refused to let anything get in the way of my plan to follow the river ... follow the river … follow the river. The creek offered short stretches of beach from time to time, but usually I just sloshed through the water, one foot in front of the other, sometimes hopping rocks I could barely see in the dark.

Author Joyce Oroz

The Art of Journaling

Journaling is like muraling without the pictures. Maybe that’s a stretch, but in both cases we are expressing what’s in our hearts. Expression is therapeutic. Reading our own words allows us to see more clearly who we are and how we really feel. Our journal is for our eyes only, which frees us to talk about whatever crosses our mind.

I have been journaling for the last ten years, regularly. It became a habit, like brushing my teeth. I picked up the habit from my friend, Raymond Lee Zanger, author of “Window of Self.” It is a very precise and instructive book on the techniques and history of writing a diary. Ray is the owner of one of the largest diary collections in the world.

I took Ray’s class, remembered the parts I wanted to remember, and put together a plan for journaling that is a bit looser than his.

Here are the aspects of journaling that work for me. Just like muraling, journaling requires a little preparation.

Buy yourself a NICE little journal (you wouldn’t want to waste that investment).

Your book should be bound—not the ring-type (so you won’t be tempted to rip out a page

Use an ink pen (so you won’t be tempted to erase your own words).

Make it a pen that flows well (so there are no excuses not to write.).

Place the book and pen in a permanent and convenient spot, like the coffee table near your favorite chair (so every evening, there it is, waiting for you to talk about your day).

I spend approximately five minutes per evening writing down the events of the day. The first thing I write is the day of the week, the month, day and year (every entry) at. Jan. 22, 2011—next line is the substance of the day.

Where did I go and what did I do and with whom

Any thoughts about what happened during the day (I use little happy and sad faces a lot)

I write three to ten lines every evening before I go to bed

I write down new medications, and how old ones are working

Any change in diet or medical symptoms

New ideas I want to hold onto, things to do

The one thing I would like to stress is, DON”T STRESS. This is your journal and you can write anything, as much or as little as you want. But you must train yourself to write—even if it’s only one silly sentence, even if it’s only one happy face icon.

The real fun happens when you pick up your journal a year later, or many years later. Even the smallest entry brings back the day, the people, the feelings you had. In other words, that day was not lost. That day had importance and the events kept their importance because you wrote them down. You can bring back to mind your own history.

Some people are more long-winded than others. Just because I write a bare-bones diary doesn’t mean you can’t write in detail, fifty lines a night if you like. The more the better.

Set a realistic goal and stick to it!

Author Joyce Oroz
"Secure the Ranch" - Mystery Novel - Available in Kindle and Paperback Format.

Book Review of "Secure the Ranch" By Author Joyce Oroz

"Secure The Ranch" by Joyce Oroz

***** (5 0ut 5) Stars

Good clean book with loads of excitement

Review Done By Wendy M Carter
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (May 19, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1432758926
ISBN-13: 978-1432758929

"Secure the Ranch" is available in both Kindle and Paperback

This mystery book was full of twists and turns, and I like the fact that you can't guess what happens in the end. It was simple enough for my 11 year old to read but had enough umph for an adult. My mother who I have never seen read a book, picked it up and could not put it down.

Aromas Sheep Barn

Photo taken by Author Joyce Oroz

Muraling Part One - For Fun and Profit

Introduction

From crude cave depictions, to twenty-first century can-art, murals decorate our lives and expound our culture. Because practically everyone on earth is familiar with pictures painted on walls, what could be a more natural decoration? Have you thought about painting a wall someday? Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? And if the painting doesn’t reach your expectations, you try again because it’s only paint!

I encourage you to envision, research and eventually paint a mural. Let go of any “must be perfect” hang-ups you might be harboring, and enjoy your own artistic creativity. If the project goes well and you enjoy the process, I will show you how to turn muraling into a profitable business.

I want to share with you some information about myself. I grew up drawing and painting and eventually turned that love of art into a career. During the last thirty years I have completed hundreds of murals, dozens of paintings, many illustrations, portraits, landscapes, seascapes, plus insignias on the side of a small airplane, a VW bug and a tow truck. If it holds still, I paint it.

Hopefully, you too, will discover the joy of painting on a grand scale, turning walls into wonderful room enhancements. A house is a house is a house, unless it has a mural in it. When a house or business has a mural, it becomes distinctive, novel, memorable and personal. People will think you were brave to attempt such a project, when in reality, you were having fun. If your first attempt didn’t work, you knew that all you needed to do was paint over it and start again.

Why decorate with a mural instead of a framed painting? Why paint a wall celery green or plum purple instead of white? Why eat a brownie when you can have a cracker? Life is what we make it, so give it the highest octane you have. Personalize your rooms. Let them speak about you and the extravagance of your imagination. Give the walls flavor and attitude and let them shine with the special creativity only you have at your disposal.

Author Joyce Oroz

"Secure the Ranch"

Secure the Ranch is available in both Paperback and Kindle Format

Small Town, Big Heart

Aromas residents treasure their miniature community park, petite post office, cozy library, dinky gas station and big mural (compared to everything else.) The whole town is small, but it’s jumping with energy, creativity, and kind folks who know how to look after each other.

As a long-time muralist, I became involved in the local mural project known as; how to make a down town rustic eye-sore look good. The ancient paint-peeling eye-sore was called Marshall’s Service. ( next door to Marshall’s Grocery) All that remained was a small, two-story wood building in the center of town.

When I was first approached to design a mural for the Marshall building, I didn’t know any of its history, not even the fact that it was once a gas station. (dah) I produced eight different designs and asked the Aromas Hills Artisans to vote on the one best suited. Most of the votes went to the picture of a 1936 International delivery truck and an old-style gas pump.

Being fairly new in Aromas, I still didn’t have a clue. I thought they liked the truck picture because it included chickens and striped canopies. But as the painting progressed, people stopped by to tell me how much they appreciated the mural. It seemed many of them had known, or knew about, Mr. Marshall and his family. After talking to the folks for two days, I realized how deep the roots of Aromas were, how much my neighbors loved their tiny town—and now I’m on of them.

I shall be interviewing members of the Aromas Hills Artisans, one at a time, beginning with author, Jennifer Chase. Stay tuned!

Unraveling the Dietary Mysteries of Labrador Retrievers

Rumors are flying that a golden lab named Sandy eats artichokes. “No way,” they all say. But she has been seen scraping the good stuff off the leaves with clenched teeth. You go, girl! Just don’t get caught between Sandy and fresh cabbage leaves. Trampling is never pretty.

The rumors get more ridiculous. Sandy has been spotted pulling weeds with her teeth and eating them. As she works hard to manicure the backyard, her boyfriend, Rocky, on the other side of the cyclone fence mimics her. Now his yard is looking good too.

Sandy is never allowed to have candy, but she can be rather persuasive as she holds an Easter bucket in her mouth, hoping for donations. She finally gives up the bucket and takes a stroll wearing her fake fur bunny ears. Try that, Rocky!

You know it’s a bad day when:

Your dog brings home a bone. You say, “good boy.” Six cop cars surround your neighbor’s house. They discover a body buried in the backyard (minus one femur) and your property value drops by half because you live in a dangerous neighborhood.

From "Secure the Ranch"

“Oh, my God, Solow,” I gasped. I hadn’t a clue how he took the crash. I jumped up and raced out the front door. Herbert had the light on in the garage that looked like Hurricane Josephine had hit it. I rounded the truck and opened the passenger door. Solow practically fell out. I helped him to the ground, noticing his whole backside was crimson. I stifled a cry with my hand. Tears welled up as I embraced the best dog-friend a person could have. Down close, hugging him, he smelled like strawberries.

Once I realized Solow was wearing strawberries and a few other food groups, I relaxed considerably. He had polished off a pound of ground round, a pint of cookies and cream ice cream and a dozen raw eggs. He had been literally rolling in groceries under the dash. Every dog’s dream!

Take a Peek Into Josephine's World...

Excerpt from Secure the Ranch:

Then I heard it, coming up fast from behind, the roar of an engine propelling a truck with major muffler problems. It backfired. I jumped a couple inches in my seat and my heart skipped several beats. Headlights flashed in my rearview mirror. Solow howled again, his head stretched out the window as far as it could go. I made a right turn onto Central Avenue, stifling the urge to stomp on the gas pedal. The truck behind us followed at the same speed until we left the streetlights behind.

Highway nine was a windy two-lane road that followed the San Lorenzo River through the redwood forest from Boulder Creek, all the way south to Felton. There were no street lights, just sharp turns, narrow bridges and steep drops down to the river.

“Brace yourself, big guy.” I put my foot down hard, the engine coughed, and we sped up only to slow down for a sharp turn.

And so it went, turn after turn with the Dodge bearing down on our tailgate like an eight-cylinder cat playing with a four-cylinder mouse. I had a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel, sweat running down my back and my jaw was tighter than a double-knotted shoelace. I had driven through the valley many times and knew my way around, but the McFee's had the “home advantage”.

I felt a hard jolt from the right rear of my truck. Solow yipped.

In slow motion, we spun to the left on two wheels, across the other lane and instantly turned a closed garage door into a million toothpicks. The one-car garage, perched high above the river beside a rustic cabin, stood about five yards from the highway. The little house was typical of many in the area, probably built in the thirties or forties when building codes were lenient or nonexistent.

Thankfully, we stopped before my pickup could break through the back wall of the garage and drop eighty feet down to the river. I heard Solow whine and didn't blame him. I felt like a good cry myself.

Shaking like crazy, I cautiously opened the door and climbed out. Once I had my balance, I stumbled down a dark path to the cabin. The porch light blinked on and the front door opened. A very distraught elderly couple dressed in pajamas looked at me as if the Martians had landed.

I stepped into the light and apologized profusely. Feeling wobbly, I wrapped my arm around a porch pillar. I always hated it when females fainted in the old movies, and I never wanted to be a fainter. But there I was, feeling numb and shaking like a maple leaf. Next thing I knew, I was laying on a couch too short for my body. My feet were up on the armrest. Pieces of peanut butter sandwich clung to the toe of my right sandal. “So that's where Theda's sandwich went,” I mumbled.

The plump little old lady patted the goose egg on my forehead with a wet cloth. “I'm so sorry I ruined your garage door. I'm sure my insurance will pay for a new one.” I looked up and thought I was hallucinating. A huge caribou head hung on the wall behind the couch. Its yellow marble eyes glared down at me accusingly.

“Relax, dear,” the frizzy-haired woman said. “You've had a terrible shock.”

The elderly man stomped into the house with his pajamas in a twist and announced that his collection of stuffed animals was a complete loss. It seemed odd to me that he wasn't nearly as concerned about his garage door as he was about some silly stuffed animals.

“I'd be happy to buy you some new ones,” I said, feeling horribly guilty. The little lady looked like she was ready to split a gut. “Honey, you can't buy them. You have to kill the mangy animals and then they're stuffed and ready to spend thirty years in the garage, or until a nice accident takes them out.” She couldn't hold back any longer and let loose with uncontrollable laughter, slapping her knees and wiping her eyes. Her husband stomped out of the house.

Author Joyce Oroz Interview

Jennifer Chase: Welcome Joyce. Please tell us a little bit about your background.

Joyce Oroz: At the tender age of twelve, I was painting in oils and writing poems while normal children socialized with each other. I was a female nerd full of pre-teen feelings of inferiority. A bazillion years later, after raising a family, working at my commercial art/mural business and taking creative writing classes on the side, I finally wrote and illustrated my first children’s book. And then I wrote twenty-six more stories, but my dream was to write a novel. After watching my husband write a book, I decided to give it my best shot. Now that I’m practically ready for the rocking chair, I am busier than ever, writing “mystery novels”, but also enjoying country life in Aromas with my husband and golden lab.

Jennifer Chase: What inspired you to write a mystery?

Joyce Oroz: Going back to twelve years old, I loved reading Nancy Drew Mysteries and read every one the library had. The Nancy Drew seed was planted, but the seed didn’t sprout until I read my first Janet Evanovich mystery five years ago. I tried to write like Janet, but only she can pull it off. Only she can blow up Stephanie’s vehicles every other day and make it seem normal. But she had set me to writing, and because I love to read mysteries, I decided to write one of my own.

Jennifer Chase: What was the hardest thing about writing this book?

Joyce Oroz: For me, the middle of the book is always the most difficult to write. I generally know how the story begins and how it ends, but there are a couple hundred pages in the middle I know nothing about. I try to let the story pull me along and take me to surprising places. If I relax and shake-off my writer’s block, the story will usually go where it needs to go.

Jennifer Chase: How long did it take you to write and what’s your writing schedule?

Joyce Oroz: One day I had an epiphany. If I could write one page a day, in one year I would have a complete novel. "Secure the Ranch" was born nine months after that idea was conceived. But the rewrites lasted two years! I average two hours of writing, six days a week, forever and ever. I look forward to it, even though it’s sometimes frustrating. But when a workable idea makes it way into my brain, it’s all worth it.

Jennifer Chase: Who are some of your favorite writers and why?

Joyce Oroz: Colleen McCullough was a favorite author (The Thorn Birds). I loved “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Nowadays, I read a mix of material by J.A. Jance, Jennifer Chase, Janet Evonavich, John Grisham and many others. The hard part is finding time to read, write and live a busy lifestyle, which is why my red pickup truck (still wearing an American flag on the rear window) speeds down the road for twenty minutes to Jasmine’s yoga class where I am able to relax and then speed home.

Jennifer Chase: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Joyce Oroz: I hope you enjoy my first effort. The effort was to make you laugh and maybe raise some hairs on the back of your neck. It was to entertain you and take you away from ordinary life. If those things didn’t happen, try my next book coming out at the end of 2010, and enjoy the ride.

Jennifer Chase: Last but not least, I love asking this question. If you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring only 3 things, what would they be?

Joyce Oroz: Since I don’t have time to be stranded on a deserted island, I would take a map, a bicycle pump and an inflatable yacht.

Jennifer Chase: Thank you so much Joyce. I look forward to your next book.


To view orginal author interview, go to: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/2010/06/interview-with-new-mystery-author.html

Order your copy of Secure the Ranch

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Secure the Ranch - A Josephine Stuart Mystery

Josephine Stuart, a fifty-year-old widow, is blessed and cursed with an overactive curiosity, a strong sense of right and wrong and a willingness to put herself on the line for her friends. Josephine has been hired to paint murals in the secluded Munger mansion, located at the top of a wooded mountain. Certain local reprobates have their reasons for wanting the Mungers to leave. Accidents, fires and the death of a forest ranger have everyone on edge. Josephine's curiosity drives her down the mountain, into the world of illegal activities and nefarious characters. Her situation becomes dire - no way to escape. One captor has a knife, the other has a rifle. Can she save herself and her friends?

Available on Amazon & Kindle